Pruning implement



(ModeL) I G. 0.. GASTERLIN 85 P. DE-WITT MOSHER.

' PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

No. 336,383. Patented Feb 16, 1886.

mvcwl o'm 6302319 6, Uawffrlaku 3% Wm M UNITED STATES GEORGE CORAY CASTERLIN AND FRANK DE \VITT MOSHER, OF DALTON PATENT OFFICE.

PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,383, dated February 16, 1886.

Application tiled November 6, 18F5.

.To all whom it Duty concern:

Be it known that we,GEoRGE O. CASTERLIN and F. D. MOSHER, citizens of the United States, residing at Dalton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pruning Implements, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention has relation to improvements in pruningshears; and the novelty consistsin the peculiar construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and specifically pointed outin the claim.

Heretofore in this class of improvements the two handle bars have been pivotally connected together, one of the bars having one of the cutting-jaws formed therewith, and the other jaw being pivotally connected to the handlebar having the integral jaw, the said independent jaw being slotted and having a link pivotally connected thereto and to an extension ofthe handle-bar, which is pivoted to the rigid jaw. This construction is very objectionable, for the reason that the connectinglink is liable to become broken at the points where it connects to the two cutting-jaws, the piv ot-pins thereofsoon becoming worn through excessive fastening on the moving parts, and breaking when strain or pressure is applied to the handle-bars to sever the limb of the tree.

Ourinvention has forits objects to overcome the above-named objections, and to provide improved means which shall be simple,strong, and durable in construction, which can be opened to cut limbs of trees and the like of large and small diameters with great ease and aminimum exertion of force; which shall be thoroughly effective in operation by giving a draw or shear cut to one of the blades; to provide means which can be readily taken apart for the purpose ofsharpening the blades and as readily put together again, and which shall be cheap of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of pruning-shears embodying our invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are opposite side elevations, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts Serial No. 18208. (Model.)

in all the figures, A B designate the handlebars, the former of which has the concave sharpened cutting-jaw a and the latter a bent shank,b, which is pivoted tothe bar A ata point a considerable distance below thejaw a,as at b.

O designates a cutter-bar having the curved cutting-j aw c at its upper end and slotted,as at (1, through which slot a headed pivot pin or bolt, d, passes to connect the said bar to the rigid jaw A. The upper end ofthe handle-bar B is slotted for a considerable distance below its bent shank b, as at e, and the lower end of the cutter-bar G is connected to the bar B by means of a bolt or pin, f, passing through the slot e, and secured in the lower end ofthe cutter-bar, as shown. These pivot pins or bolts df are free to slide or move back and forth in their respective slots when thejaws are operated to cut the limb.

E designates a stop-pin fixed in the rigid handlebar A,and adapted to limit the inward or cutting action of the cutter-bar O, and con sequently the handle-bar B.

The operation of the device is obvious. \Vhen the jaws are closed together, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pivot pins or bolts abut against the upper walls of their respective slots, and the cutter-bar O rests against the stop-pin E. WVhen the handlebar B is moved outwardly or away from the rigid bar A on its pivot b, the boltf of the cutter-barO slides toward the lower end of the slot 6 in the bandle-bar,thus permitting the jaws to open without affecting the fulcrum between the jaws a and c, and accommodating limbs of different diameters; but when it is desired to open the jaws still farther to accommodate a limb of very large diameter, and bring the lowermost cutting-point of the convex cuttingjaw in proper position to begin the cutting operation and perform the draw or shear cut, the bandlebar B is forced or drawn still farther outwardly and opened to its fullest capacity, whereby thepinfwill force the bar Oupward ly,this upward movement of the bar being permitted by its slot (1 sliding over the pivot pin or bolt d. A draw or shear cut is performed on the limb when the jaws are brought together; and by means of the peculiar construction and arrangement of the various parts lower end of the cutter-bar carries a headed pin,which is free to slide in the slotted upper end of the operating handle-bar.

By means of the slotted handle-bar and the headed pin of the pivoted cutter-bar sliding therein the jaws of the device can be opened to cut a large size of limb without affecting the fulcrum of the said cutter-bar, and enabling the operator to cut the limb with greater ease.

Having thus. fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is e As an improved article of manufacture, a

pruning-shears comprising a rigid handle-bar, A, having a cutting-jaw, a, an operatinghan dle-bar, B, pivoted to the handle A at a point below the jaw a, and having a longitudinal slot, 6, at its upper end, a movable cutter-bar, 0, having aslot, d, at a point below-its jaw 0, a headed pin, d, passing through the slot of the bar 0 to connect the same with the bar A, a headed pin, firigidly secured in the lower end of the bar 0, and sliding in the slot 6 of the handle B when the handles are operated, and a stoppin, E, secured to the bar A, and. against which the bar 0 abuts when the jaws we are closed together, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.-

GEORGE CORAY OASTERLIN. FRANK DE- WITT MOSHER. Vitnesses:

F. A. COPWELL, J. S. ll/IONTGOMERY. 

